Amazing 269 Sq. Ft. ESCAPE Traveler Tiny House

This is the amazing 269 sq. ft. ESCAPE Traveler Tiny House on Wheels! It’s a 269 sq. ft. tiny house on wheels. You can tow this RV licensed 28′ long tiny house with most standard pick up trucks.

When you go inside this simply beautiful tiny home you can feel how the large windows invite the outdoors in. The kitchen has plenty of cabinets and even full-size appliances. Head into the large bathroom and you’ll find a shower, toilet, sink, and even a washing machine! Take a look above the bathroom and you’ll see there is a sleeping loft you can climb into. Plus just above the living area, there is another loft for storage. There are many layout options to choose from.

Related

I’ve looked at quite a few of these and this is one of the best in design , has an easy clean floor plan and it is light and bright . The only change I would of made is to make the ladders the same color as the rest of the wood in the house, but that is minor change
Great Job!

How deep and how long is the bath tub? I stayed in a motel 6 one night and I could not extend my legs nor turn without getting stuck. I want to be able to soak with the water running up over my shoulders. I am 5 feet 6 inches.

Eric, where do you live where standard bathtubs are six feet in length? It isn’t as large in witdth or length that I would like, but 5′ is definitely standard. I know this because I am a secretary and everyone says I know everything.

Love the use of space. The only thing that troubles me is the stove against the refrigerator. That’s a good way to cut the lifespan of the fridge greatly if you cook daily. There needs to be a minimum of one foot between them. Two feet would be even better.

Donna – I’ve never heard of that before. I’ve lived in many places with the fridge and stove next to each other without any problems. Do you have any sources for why it could be a problem? If it is a serious issue, I want to know so I can avoid it in the future!

Yes, Donna, you are right. It is never a good idea to have a refrigerator next to an oven…a stove top is OK but not an oven that generates so much heat. Sometimes, in homes, they put extra insulation between the stove and refrigerator but I still think it is best to separate them. The ‘frig will wear out much faster when it is subjected to the heat.

I have never heard that either about not putting the fridge immediately next to the oven so I asked my architect friend and she said, yes, you try to avoid that. — Based on the floor plan they show in the last 2 pictures it looks to me that they HAD to put the stove immediately next to the fridge because of where the trailer wheels are. They could not put the full size appliances where the wheel well is, so they put the stove next to the fridge and put the sink over the wheels.

If you are going to put a stove/oven next to a fridge – there are a few things you can do – there are products like this ( https://www.fornobravo.com/store/fb-board-36242/ ) which are often used for wood stoves or brick ovens – but will give you thermal resistance AND fireproofing. This is lightweight (for what it does) and easy to install and durable! It is also HIGHLY worth doing ABOVE the horizontal plane of the stove top – a heatshield on the side of the fridge. This can be easily done with one piece of 1/4″ thick wonderboard (cementious tile backer board) that you have wrapped in sheet aluminum or copper or other metal

Honestly love the design but not a fan of the large appliances and full bathtub. I mean who moves into a tiny trailer and needs a full size stove and refrigerator? A freezer would be a better purchase. I am thinking that the tiny movement probably includes those that eat what they grow and therefore do not have a great need to waste precious space on a stove and refrigerator when a crockpot and Georgeforman would do. As for the bathtub, it’s too much. A shower unit would have been a better use of space. I do love the layout, french doors and pine floors. Very nice inside the outside needs more planning … I surely plan on making one just like it though.

For those people who are looking at compact spaces with full-time living in mind, it’s nice to know that you can get full sized appliances and a bathtub in such a small footprint! Not everyone is willing or able to go shopping every single day just to get enough food to eat without having to dine out. (And not everyone has the land or skills to grow every bit of their own food, either.) If this place is your permanent living quarters, why be a martyr to the square footage? If a little touch of luxury like a real tub can be had, I’d have it by all means! Certainly there seems to be a great amount of storage in this bitty home, so that wasn’t sacrificed for the appliances or tub. I really like this layout and the choices they’ve made. Two thumbs up!

I agree with what you say Deadrock. I for one like to both cook and bake so a “George Foreman and a crockpot” just would not do. Actually neither does a 28 foot trailer. I do think the unit is way overpriced even though well appointed and quality workmanship. I can purchase a 40 story and a half lofted log cabin park model with all the goodies for between $30,ooo and $45,000 — I can build my own shed roof THOW for around $20,000, which I am starting to do. Also, other park models start at around $20,000 and have more amenities. But it is a beautiful unit with many good ideas and all are great fun to look at. Thanks for sharing Alex.

I agree with you, Deadrock, just because you want to downsize and go mobile doesn’t mean you can’t have a real oven and fridge, a fireplace, a very nice big screen tv. I am not sure of the size of the TV, but I think it could be a 60 inches or so. I have been looking at some electric and gas fireplaces, and some had logs, and some had crystal like rocks that can change color, and different heating and color settings. I would had about 6 more feet. I read on one of the comments that the interior is 24 feet. I would want a shower option, and not have to step over the tub, plus getting up and down in the tub is a pain for me, and I would rather take showers, and a murphy bed, on the wall where the entertainment center is, move the entertainment center to the opposite wall. Also, move the fridge to the other side and then the stove over, you will then have room for the pantry and a closet and drawers. So many ideas to add, to make it your own based on your needs, wants, and personal situation. The more I read about, see the tv shows about them, and the videos on youtube, the more I want to add on my own personal house. Happy Trails on the Tiny House, mobile travelers.

Some people, due to medical conditions, physical or otherwise, need to use a bath. While a shower is more economical of space, and water, in this plan it works fine with the toilet and the wash hand basin fixture. ‘Nuff said?

This is beautiful howev, the original purpose behind the tiny houses, was to downsize and keep the costs way down so can have little or no mortgage. Younger people or older people, singles or young couples. Designed to be affordable housing. With the cost.of this home I could add $10,000 more and buy a 2 bedroom home already on the lot. This is not what most people who are looking for tiny homes are wanting to pay. I love this tiny house.but not willing to spend that.kind of money and still need to have land. I think the tiny home business is getting away from their original concept. I use to see.tiny homes for $18,000-$25,000 all the time and they were nice. I guess it has taken off and once again maybe greed is taking over the purpose behind the concept of tiny home living.

I understand your frustration Shirley. There are different options out there that are less expensive they’re just not usually this “nice”. A lot of the pricing also has to do with other things to, like inflation, which I guess does have something to do with greed. But many builders have families to feed and employees/contractors to pay (so they can feed their families too). All that being said, I always encourage everybody to enjoy the ideas since they’re free. And maybe you can hire a contractor to build you one for less?

I watch Tiny Home Nation each time I get the chance and they build beautiful THomes for 42k with claw foot tub, full kitchen, washer dryer combo. Instant hot water, Tv that turns into a mirror when off. Two loft bed areas. Stairs with storage on one loft , etc. Everything but a dishwasher. So I too think$70,000 is way to high. For that one can buy a nice park model or a beautiful fifth wheel. For 129,900 I built a 3/3 bath home in Florida with caged poll on a canal near Sarasota. It was 2000 sq ft. Prices have not inflated that much. Builders should realize they can’t make as much on a low end build but this seems they are trying. Do yourself a favor and find small builders and your own plans. Watch the show.

Coming from a permanent dwelling of 3-5 bedrooms, two living areas, kitchen, and such, it is still downsizing, with wheels. Some of the tiny houses are a bit too tiny for some of us. This one with a 30 feet option can be a good option for many like myself. It is a roomy option for downsizing and still mobile without having to hire a mobile home mover.

I disagree with you entirely. People’s reasons for going tiny vary tremendously. I am looking at tiny houses because where I live my mortgage on my half-duplex is 400K. If I put a beautiful tiny house such as this on a lot in an outlying area I would be able to cut my mortgage in half, own a bigger piece of property in terms of long term investment, have more privacy, and not have to sacrifice a thing in terms of amenities. That makes it very attractive. Affordability is so relative.

I agree that the original purpose behind the tiny house movement has been revised, but people seem to like the idea of downsizing and still want full size appliances, a full bathroom with tub, and many more amenities than we saw just a few years ago. Those who have a yen for the original concept can still build their own or even find a builder to help; you can still see one featured now and then.

Shirley, most people don’t want to spend that kind of money. But some people do. Not everybody is going tiny for monetary reasons. Some are going tiny for environmental reasons, some for less housework reasons, some for the mobility capabilities. There’s many reasons for going tiny (or small) and they are equally valid for different people. 1 size (financially that is) doesn’t fit all.

Love this TH…. I think the comments on price are completely relative….. If you want to buy a 10K TH…theres is plenty out there but if you have a higher standard in materials than 60-70K is completely normal… in the end wiether you spent 10k or 60K your still living a smaller life and having a smaller impact…thats what matters.

Whew! Very nice kitchen and excellent use of space. If one travels with this how big of a truck do you need and what about the flush toilet? (which I love). Sadly I am over 50 and am not crazy about ladders. Prefer stairs. I am always seeking space saving staircases for THOWs. I believe there is a tremendous market for the over 50 crowd for THOWs. A well made (as in sturdy) TH is perfect for many of us. This THOW would be great fun for a family. Nice work! Keep it up!

Thank you for reply! I truely understand that folks who build have families to feed, just as we do. I was just under the impression that the tiny house trend was to downsize and provide an alternative to expensive houses or higher based rent. Yes, this is nice house and I love it. But I cannot see paying this price for this house when I can get house, already on a lot for not much more. And I actually wanted a tiny house for 2 reasons. One I am disabled and did not want a bigger house to care for. A tiny house would make it easier to clean and also to move from area to area. And I also had hoped to have no mortage or a low mortage due to future medical bills. I had seen many tiny houses in the beginning that were ideal for my needs and also budget. But seems that in last 6 months the ones I have seen, have been quite lovely, but the prices are also increased. I am just worried that the concept of the tiny house is moving away from the original ideas.

Shirley, most people don’t live in a place where they can buy a 2 bedroom home for $10K more than the cost of this tiny house. This tiny house has very nice finishes and full-size appliances which always cost more. If it is customizeable, some might opt for a smaller fridge or a two burner stove. As I watch TV programming for tiny houses, it seems that $50-60K seems to be the average price for a place that’s around 300 sf.

Where I live, I own a 450 sq foot condo that cost $200K. I still owe about $150K of that to the bank. So, expensive is an extremely relative term. I could sell my apartment, buy one of these, and nearly eliminate my mortgage, all with no downward movement in living standards. That is very appealing!

I have been following tiny houses for quite some time .When it wasn’t “Cool” to own a tiny house and the builders were thankful for ANY business ,the product was affordable for the masses. NOW because the tiny houses are “cool” the prices are ridiculous. I’m sad to see this.

I’m not sure if that’s entirely true Lynn because Tumbleweed prices have always been up there all along. Some tiny homes are built with more affordable materials and less detail work to make price lower. Some builders in the past though have even sold tiny homes and actually not made much of a profit at all considering the amount of labor they put into them. I understand yours and others feeling on how expensive they are but it’s not fair for us to expect people to work for next to nothing either. The best price you can get for a tiny house is taking the time to build it yourself. Finding reclaimed materials, etc. If we aren’t willing to do that, we have to expect to pay a reasonable rate for various expert’s time. Even brand new RVs and travel trailers are usually very expensive (especially the nice ones!)

Thanks for your reply to my post.I enjoy your newsletter everyday. I still disagree with your view point on how expensive tiny homes tend to be.I would suggest to your readers to do their homework ,look for alternatives. I lived in a “Park Model” home 498 sq ft for a number of years and paid under $25,000 new for it and it was beautiful. Then my hubby and I full time RV’ed in a motor home for 8 years. Now we live in a 14 x 56 home on wheels we purchased as a fixer upper. My point is to shop around before you decide. Tiny home living comes in All shape, sizes and price ranges . Our next project is a container home . Happy Tiny Living

Very true Alex, some prices are just up there, I find markup amazing like everybody else, a shame the laborers don’t get a higher % of the cost, then it isn’t seem so bad. Carpentry IS a very SKILLED trade and some are that good, others sadly bring down their field, because their math isn’t up to par etc. I’m sure the contractor discounts on these appliances here and the cabinets/countertops could not have offset the price all that much to make a screaming big difference difference. It is a nice place, for somebody (else)! Those personal touches come after your purchase! I see a lot here for open space use and I think downsizing to this one is a solid way to go, because there’s storage where it’s needed/used. You couldn’t ask for more there really, practical, comfortable, and stylish does have a cost (as shown, lol.

It seems wrong to me to assume builders are over-charging for tiny homes without actually figuring out the costs associated with designing and building them. It reminds me of people that complain about how much a cup of coffee in a cafe costs, when they have no idea what the coffee costs, the milk costs, the sugar packets cost, the rent or mortgage on the cafe costs, and the price of paying the employees to be there to make it for you. I get tired of hearing people complain about “overpriced” homes who are not nearly well enough informed to make that judgment.

I think you have to find what you are willing to spend and see what you will get for that money. I believe everyone has a right to charge whatever they feel is proper for their time, labor and materials. Some builders may use lesser quality windows, appliances, wood, insulation etcetera (I am not an expert here). I believe you “get what you pay for”. If you feel; a builder is pricey contact another builder to get the same materials and quality (or lack of it). Go to a quality crafts fair and see the beautiful glass, metal and clay crafts and what people charge for them. They deserve to get paid fairly for their work but not everyone will purchase it. namaste’, rachel.

I think this is lovely, but too pricey for me. I have 5 acres and will put in a small house instead. I have a zillion iterations of plan… using many ideas from these emails. I appreciate your contribution. Had a friend pushing an alternate bigger plan to me… but I seem to have lost the desire for it.

Everybody is figuring out how tiny house living is being exploited,unfortunately.
Jay Shaffer came up with a tremendous concept for affordability, small footprint impact, and simple efficient design….for the right reasons, and the right future impact…..I really salute him……and loved his designs.
Having quality doesn’t mean subzero and wolf range. Like anything, it is so the American way to take a good simple product and embellish it to the max …….I am sticking with the original Tumbleweed tiny house concept that I really loved from the start.

Wolf and sub zero…quality in name only lol we’ve installed a lot of it, and everyone usually tends to hate it. Aside from ovens, wolf has some of the worst designs in the business. There’s a reason you have to get licensed by them to install their stuff….because they know no one operating on common sense could figure it out lol

A tub and a real couch?! Yes please! The only thing missing for me is stairs….but I could live with that. The second loft could easily be turned into a home office or crafting space.

I do agree that the full appliances seem a bit much, and the price is nearly what I bought my bricks-n-sticks townhome for, back before the housing bubble.

But it’s important to remember that different folks have different reasons for going tiny. Some people just want a simpler life, or less space and fewer things to maintain, and aren’t focused on being mortgage-free.

Some tiny house folks might want to grow their own food and live completely off-grid, but personally, I hate gardening and yard work with a fiery passion, and don’t particularly want to deal with a compost heap.

If anything, THOWs like this show that the tiny house movement is spreading beyond its original target demographic, as it were. I think that’s a good thing!

Yes, definitely… I’m am loving the diversity in the TH community, there is a place for all…even in amongst normal size houses! they’re pretty cool! (it’s like the first kid in school to walk down the school halls sporting a mowhawk in the 80’s), kind of cool… speaking as one of many who got to see the Tiny Houses in Dayton OH a couple weeks ago, they were parked in the back Yard of the Hook Mansion (lovely place, btw) for the parade of homes tour. What a sight to see the opposing ends of the scale next to each other (see: http://www.meetup.com/Greater-Cleveland-Tiny-House-Enthusiasts/) some people posted pics there also.

This may actually be my most favorite design for a tiny house! To bring the price tag down, I would have fewer fancy finishes and would ditch the full sized kitchen appliances for slightly smaller ones. I would also replace the ladders with stairs to the lofts, but would go with compact designs that also incorporate storage. But other than that — practically perfect! Since I live in the city, and don’t own land, this would be my fantasty ‘country’ house for weekend getaways. 🙂

Only problem is the loft space – not enough room to make them anything but places to lie horizontally and sleep. They don’t necessary need to be large enough to stand up in (although that would be greatly helpful!), but not even a desk and chair would fit here, so they are useless as office spaces (always a concern for me, as I have a home-based business). So this is really best for vacationing with 1-6 people, or I suppose it’s useful as a full-time home if 1 person (or 2 really-in-love people) wants to use the loft spaces as storage. If not for my business, which needs at least a quiet corner for a computer and a little storage, this would be a real option!

I have some ideas to provide you, one is to have the entertainment center on the other wall, with the fireplace and TV closer to the big window, and the shelving by the windows, it would widen your shelving and maybe a fold table, to use as a desk, you can fold it up as a desk when you want to work, and fold down when you need space for when you pull out the bed.

Also, you can see the TV from the kitchen with this layout. I also thought for the opposite wall to put a pull down wall bed. When in the up position, it can have a couch, a cushion mounted to it, and a fold down seat with a matching cushion. I would put little side tables, so you can walk around both sides of the bed, to change sheets, and make the bed. That wall bed idea came to me today while I was out shopping at the stores, looking at TV’s. I am wondering how large is that TV in the picture, I looked at TV’s today, even 65″ curved Samsung TV’s, and that one in the picture looks like it can be a 60 to 65 inch TV.

Also, having an extra 2 feet in the length of the trailer, and narrowing the big window, while moving the door over, you can have room to put the refrigerator on the other side, then this may transfer the weight to the other side, thus sliding the stove over and making room for some more closet space. The other bonus is the stove and refrigerator won’t be next to each other, and this can solve the issue with spacing and the wheel base and fridge and stove top as well.

These are ideas that I want to employ for me. I still rather only use the loft over the bathroom for storage, and have the vaulted ceiling over the living / sleeping area.

I would like to have the big windows shorten or to the height of the table, with a lower part for awning windows to allow some air in, and with the kitchen window open it can create a cross breeze.

Thank you for the info about the XL version. I would like it to be a bit longer, room for everything on one level, and skip the lofts and ladders. I have had hip replacement surgery and the thought of a whole flight of stairs or a ladder, and a very short loft, where I would have to crawl, is not appealing to me. A few steps into the house is one thing, but a whole flight of stairs is quite another. I do love the open feeling of the living, bedding, kitchen, dining makes seem more roomy for a smaller house. The only separate room is the bathroom, and I love the washing/dryer. That bathroom seems roomy also. But I wouldn’t mind the vaulted ceiling in the bathroom as well, instead of a loft. I am sure there are many others would find a loft difficult to use. They seem cute, but maybe the younger set can physically manage a loft more. I have watched the Tiny House Living Big, and Tiny House Hunters, most of these were younger folks who seem to like the lofts.

regarding DEADROCK’s post about the loft height…there is one way to beat that quite a bit with custom ceiling heights…(some companies can do) but also notice in the description that this place is RV certified, they use those headroom standards for the main areas , there’s alot of rules about the spaces/sf on rooms etc… (quite detailed, it’s on the web) when you build your own, you can make the heights to your needs, like I’m 5’1″ so a 7′ manufactured ceiling height is dumb (I’d wasting 2′ above my head) so I can shift up to a foot of that extra height into the loft and make them more “roomy”, as for tall guests, well I don’t know of any over 5’7 so If I should find a 6′ person to invite over it must be a picnic on the patio (maybe a roving gorilla ,haha) they’ll just have just have to duck to used the loo…right

Very nice. Has a large feel and good storage. I’ve notice that for some $71K seems like a lot of money but, if you price new RV’s of the same size you’ll see that their base price is even more and this one has a lot of nice upgrades. The only con for me is I’m not a ladder person. I’d like to see something like this with stairs.

If you follow the link to the website, there’s a page with the specs… 28′ includes the tongue; the actual trailer is only 24′ and the square footage does include the lofts. I think it’s just a standard width of 8.5′ exterior, so about 7′ inside.

I guess price really is relative, but where I live, that is a buttload of money. My 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick ranch with 1 car garage and walkout basement only cost $65,000 and I could have done better if I’d had time to look around. That being said, that is one cool “house trailer”…..

When did you buy your $65,000 ranch house, and what part of the country? Most places these days for a permanent dwelling is a lot more these days. Most places it is over $100,000 for a house that is on a permanent foundation. One thing I love, is that you don’t have to stay in the same place full time.

2 years ago this month. We also have one for sale in that price range in Salem, Indiana It’s a 3 BR brick ranch with a drive in basement and birch cabinetry built in 1959. My wife’s parents bought it as it was being finished. These prices are the norm here, not the exception. I know it’s a lot different in big cities, but I have little use for those. My neighbors eat grass and go MOOOO a lot. I like that idea of not being fastened to one spot as well, but, due to work, spouse, etc. I am.

Thank you, I was wondering where you can still get a house under $100,000 these days. I am in one place for family, and work. But hopefully, when my family and I are retired we can travel and go somewhere that does not get to hot in the summer and to go cold in the winter. Also, near a lake or ocean where there beaches. I really miss that.

If I close my eyes to the price…this is a wonderful THOW! Love the layout. I could sleep on the couch in front of the fireplace and let the granddaughters enjoy the loft. Nice bath with the washer/dryer combo. Plenty of windows too.

I love the interior articulation, but forever security conscious me doesn’t like all the windows in the side wall; the door and juxta the door. To me, this is just an open invitation for some misguided person to attempt to break in. I think there should be sliding panels that one can close when traveling and slide back when one is in an environment they are sure is safe. Otherwise, it’s move-in ready; very nice.

As for security, I was thinking of mirror tinting, which also blocks a high percentage of UVA / UVB and any heat that would soak up. I would have all the windows tinting. I have seen various types of doors, sliding, French doors etc, with double pane and a set of blinds inside. I also would want to put blinds on the windows, so if I want to darken the room for a nap or so, I could do so. (I saw that in the hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot). I have seen a pull down deck on some of the videos of these houses and that would be great for the door on the side. Airstream trailers can come with an awning that pulls out. I would make a few other changes, like a shower instead of a tub, and then have more room. I would use the loft over the bathroom for storage, and just have the vaulted ceiling over the rest of the unit. I also would have the fireplace/tv on the opposite wall, so I can watch it while I am in the kitchen. Thus the couch would be on the opposite wall and then I can see out that nice picture window. From these pictures, the couch can make out to a roomy bed, and I would sit and sleep on that, instead of a loft and bonking my head all the time. I like the fireplace that you can turn on if needed. A slight rearrangement of the shelves on the sides, would provide a place for printers and other peripherals, backup HD, CD Rom – Blu-ray external drives etc. I have a tray table that works like the ones in the hospital, with a nice finish, with wheels that go under the bed. Since there is an opening under the bed this would work great, for eating and using my laptop. I like the shelves all around the bed/couch area, would be great for my computer books and videos, etc. Also, a speaker bar would be on the shelf over the tv. But, basically, this would be a nice set up. Maybe a built in oven on the other side and a sink by the fridge, and a stove top where the sink is, then you would resolve the stove by the fridge and the wheel well area, will be resolved. A couple feet longer would also give more room, for closet by the door, and some drawers as well. I would have the ladder rest up on the loft with a rope to pull it down if I need to get up to the loft, or put something on the ledge above the kitchen wall. Maybe alternate plans might be helpful for others, as well. I think this floor plan would be a good base to start with. A 30 foot Airstream Trailer are starting with $98,000, with smaller fridge, a microwave, not even full size oven. If this is about $60,000 – $70,000 this would be a better deal. I do like the Airstream, but I also like a small on wheels to be more like a house, but consider as an RV and allowed in RV parks, or a Mobil home park.

I have seen one with a fold down deck by the door, and folds up and has locks to hold in place while traveling, this can be an idea for the door and window, it will also protect the glass from rocks and other debris from breaking while in transit. An added idea, make the window out of a strong plexy glass, that is used in windows of many vehicles.

I was thinking of a pair of doors on rails, like some bathroom doors we see, or pocket doors, or barn doors that just slide to either side of the front door, but can be closed and locked from the inside, too, if you find yourself someplace that you don’t feel safe but have to shut down for the night. (I’ve done a couple of cross countries by myself.) The glass would have to be double or triple glaze under travel circumstances or it will shatter if you try to take it over the road (OTR).

It is just lovely! I agree with so many points made! 🙂
Safety IS an issue for woman; love windows but how to prevent brake-ins….?
Why full sized appliances? Surprised y’all have to even ask that! For people who will NOT have the money to eat out often, which makes perfect sense when living in a Tiny House in the first place. Who wants to prepare a decent meal on a cheap electric hot plate or whatever. Plus people who enjoy cooking, entertain, and want to eat healthy. Going to the store every other day a hassle and waste gas, mileage, time…
I have a mini-garden and so far for the life of me can’t understand why people ENJOY it?!?!? God bless those of you who do… I am still learning. Plus how many people can grow the sheer variety that exists now in the stores?
Love the fact this is almost 300 square feet! Yay! But not too big where needs wide load label.
Yeah, what about the roof , as cute as it is, not allowing other uses besides sleeping? Bummer.
Tub? I’d get rid of it also to save space even though I enjoy soaking but stopped years ago to cut back on water and gas heating bills! Ugh. But maybe living in a Tiny Home would make that possible?!?!?!?
As far as the cost goes, it certainly sucks. Yet again it makes me re-consider having one-see all the options. Seeing the more expensive houses puts the others to shame, at times, not always, and it’s depressing.
Plus when you take out the customizing as much as possible, and have a handful of models to choose from, such as Tumbleweed, it should keep the cost down. It’s like making cookie cutter houses but these are easier and faster to build?!?!? So costs per square feet should not be so high.
With the variety in floor plans and roofs I don’t even know anymore what I want! Plus it does not help when dreaming of this for the future since I don’t know exactly what my circumstances will be…complicates things greatly.
I thinks since the use of Tiny Homes is growing, I won’t need to build one myself in the future but simply buy one from an individual who can decide what to sell it for…the price can be played with depending on why they built it in the first place.
Still the cheapest I have seen so far besides building oneself is a used mobile home or a Yurt style home.
I keep repeating this but….even. Even beats building yourself. I have no idea if purchasing a used bus or the like and converting it, plus using for transportation, can be lower.

This is one of the most well thought out tiny homes I a have seen. I am designing a tiny home and find that people are attracted to design features and always looking for better ways of using small space. This is a natural progression of an idea and is how things get better. Naturally the cost will go up but for people wanting the optimum layout and neat features that will happen. I find the concept interesting and for someone building their own home, many of these things don’t take more money, just time and effort. This is one of the best.

This has a lot going for it but there is in my opinion still room for improvement. The loft area is too cramped you have the open headspace in the centre there is no need for that much head space under the loft areas unless you are an exceptionally tall person. You could gain back some loft height you could also lessen the pitch of the roof. This would give you more foot room and better egress from the space. Its great that there is room for full sized appliances if needed. My other issue is the placement of the fireplace if this is also a sleeping area its too close to where people would sleeping and then there is the issue of heat rising to the upper lofts which would be stifling. Looking at that bath all I can think of is how much space you could claw back for a pantry or closet or even repositioning the bathroom door and adding in a storage steps to the loft above.
This may appear to be nitpicking the design but actually it says a lot about the versatility of this tiny house judging by the comments its a good one as it evokes a lot of ideas on how to vary the existing design which is the basis of a good tiny house design. I really like it 🙂

Another outstanding product from Dan and his team in Wisconsin. Yes, it’s pricey, but there is a need for well built, well insulated, tiny houses that can be moved occasionally without the expense and hassles of a manufactured home mover . This is priced comparable to a quality 5th wheel travel trailer but with full size amenities and far superior insulation for severe climates. I could see units like this in deserts of the Southwest where I live year round and the daytime temps reach 110 degrees. This would be much better than a conventionally built RV.
As for the sleeping in a loft, the downstairs day bed looks adequate for those not wanting to climb a ladder. I see it as an extremely well designed product with great potential for those needing quality, room, and a well insulated RV. Could be used for oil field housing in the North or housing in the heat of the desert Southwest. I say well done !!

I love this house! The only drawback that I can see is the amount of windows. I am in Fl. That many windows would turn the place into an easy bake oven by 3 pm! You would have to choose which way to face your house very carefully or get some black out curtains..kinda defeats the purpose. Can you face the pull out couch facing the T.V.? Does anyone know if there would be room?

Marry and Kathleen,
I agree that all those windows will most likely turn that into an oven, that why tinting would be a great option, it should cut out a lot of the harmful rays, and the heat. And blinds will help, to be able to adjust at certain times of the day when it is especially hot. This a great idea for anyone in a very warm climate, like FL all the way to the West Coast. Mirror tinting can also help with the privacy as well. I mention in a previous comment. I hope you find this option helpful. I would have done before the windows are installed.

My 86-year-old knees began hurting the second I saw that near-vertical ladder to the loft. That, and minimal headroom topside make this other wise attractive unit a no-go for me, unless that couch on the fantail will accommodate a stretched-out six-footer.

The price, and the wallboard curb my enthusiasm for an otherwise reasonably attractive design for someone looking for a Granddaddy house.

About the appliances; while you young’uns may not need a full size fridge, when you get to my age you appreciate one. My insurance requires me to get any meds that I take on a regular basis from their ware house in 3month increments. My meds take a shelf and a half of my fridge when they come in. Thank goodness not all my meds need refrigeration! This is why a full size fridge is a major requirement for me though room for a freezer would be nice too. I live in a small 1bedroom house(aprox 740sf) and try to do edible landscaping. So, often I need fridge room to store produce, another reason for a full size fridge.I can a lot of the excess and that’s not something you do on a hot plate. So some of us do require full size appliances.

Lots of great design. Many thoughtful comments! That’s why Alex & his hard work are such welcome additions to my inbox!

With more potential health issues in the future, I’m re-re-re-(ad barfium) designing my “ideal” TH to include as many of these wonderful ideas as well as thinking ADA accessible.

On this design, I’d look into swapping the tub for a walk-in shower–roll in, actually–and I think I’d lose the loft over the living room (as in the last drawing), replacing it with one of those nifty drop-from-the-ceiling beds. Not that I’ve spent any time actually thinking it through though.

The kitchen counters etc might have to be dropped for wheelchair use…or maybe one of those electric chairs with the built in lift (actually made for paraplegics).

Now I’m gonna hafta work on TH v.99.44.9 on SketchUp…
It’s a good thing that the planning/dreaming is an enormous source of pleasure…

This really is the best design I have seen in a Tiny house. I would hold back on a few things though. No need for a fireplace, a bathtub, flushing toilet or full sized fridge. As a 23 year old I can do stairs all day.

I would change very few things. Maybe put the TV on the other side (people may have a point about weight balance with this tiny house). I would see if the lofts can be put a little bit lower (not sure what it is now, but a couple more inches would go along way in the loft). Possibly add skylights in the lofts, depending on the pitch of the roof. Other then that this is perfect. Price is spot on as well. You pay for the quality here, fair price.

Well this tiny home sure did garner a lot of comments. This home was certainly well planned out. I am sure that it has its exceptions for everyone but overall I give this one a 10 out of 10. Many of your subscribers have the ability to buy luxurious trailers or 5th wheels this is a fine example why they choose not to. I feel right at home and I do not even own it. There is also the other side of the spectrum which deals more with the minimalists which I do greatly respect and appreciate also. If I could Alex, I would like to see in your newsletter perhaps what you have experienced as far as top 10, taking into consideration design and function ability. Thank-you for your newsletter I look forward to them as often as they arrive

Opinions are like elbows I guess. Most have 1 or 2:). It is a nice rig, but it a bit much for me. Guess I am used to a simpler lifestyle. I have lived for years in small spaces. Mostly in rvs. But what is ok for one, just won’t do it for another. Tiny houses are great in my view. This one would be a sacrifice for some, and a luxury for others. Lots of “elbow” room in this extra large country. So have a couple of opinions, and be nice to each other. Above that, please be good to our earth. Thanks.

While beautiful and functional as a static structure, I would be concerned that the tow load is too heavy on one side. Hauling this tiny home could be potentially hazardous, since most of the heavy stuff–appliances, storage, bathroom–is on the rear wall. Thoughts??

It’s a lovely house, but certainly not for me. I think once TV gets hold of an idea such as tiny homes, then it skyrockets and a lot more people think it sounds cool. But they don’t have the same motivation as the folks following this blog a few years ago – downsizing, minimalism, etc. There is no reason to exclude anyone with their likes and wants, but some of us who have been following this concept from the beginning maybe have a different idea of downsizing and tiny home living. So please continue to represent all points of view, including the original tiny home idea that could be had for a low budget.

Such an appealing design. I don’t understand why some of us are so bothered by seeing ideas that we wouldn’t choose. No one is making us accept/buy anything. We all have unique sets of priorities. We have varying resources, situations, preferences and needs. I appreciate the variety of sizes, styles, materials, features and quality that Alex offers. I don’t believe there is one “correct” purpose for tiny houses. The brilliant concept will expand, fed by the creativity it inspires. As seen in the comments here. Thank you all.

I almost have no words…that’s a fantastic looking design. So much light, an d obviously designed for solar gain (free heat), and so many beds available for a small family or guests, or of course simply storage.

Very profession, too. It’s obvious the builders have lots of prior experience. I’m a little envious of this one.

I love this layout and design for the escape and the XL model .
Would defenitely like to see more like this.
They do not sell the plans.
Do you know where to find similar plans for sale ?
We’re in the planning stages but still very new to the tiny house idea . It would be great to have a plan to work with.
I have been looking for a 30 ” trailer and havent been able to find one, any ideas?
Thanks 🙂

Beautiful home. My adjustments would include separating the stove and fridge and check for stable weight distribution.

Years ago I owned a 1957 Stewart 8 x45 2 story trailer that was fascinating. I have been sketching plans based on that for a total length of 24 to 30 foot by 8 1/2 feet wide. The loft is designed to stand up in. One can look at pictures of the insides of the very old Lighthouse duplex trailers that had 2 bedrooms and a bath as well as separate kitchens and living room all on a 30′ and up length trailer. The Stewart and the lighthouses were extremely heavy however and required a truck to pull.
Tiny houses are wonderful modern re-introductions of early trailer house living with the added bonus usually of quality materials designed to last like a full sized house and safe to live in in all weather climates.
I really enjoy seeing all of the tiny house presentations and applaud it’s much needed growth in todays world.

Yes I have to agree with the rest of you, This design is absolutely the best design for a tiny house that I have ever seen…2 loft areas and a living room area that doubles as a sleeping area as well, there’s your 3 bed rooms and 1 bath tiny home…Perfect for me and my son and daughter.
I’m a single Dad and this would be perfect for us.
Perfect Design, Thank you for sharing this.

First of all I love the light wood interior. However the full size appliances in the kitchen area ruin it for me. There under-counter frig/freezer combos available. A cook top with two burners and a small under counter oven would be my choice. As a guy, I never take soaking baths…showers for me so a decent sized shower would be perfect for me. Again! Those ladders to get up to sleeping areas. My 68 year old knees could not handle that!!! I love the W/D in the bathroom..a must have. The fireplace is a nice addition but really…meh. In general though, I like this. The only problem is the price for what you are getting.

THIS tiny house design is the best so far. Finally, a builder who understands that many people cuddle up to watch TV/movies, wash clothes, need a bathroom and typically require two beds, even if bedrooms are not possible in a tiny space. The design has it all plus a beautiful use of materials. Outside of the full-sized oven/stove top and huge frig I’d not change a thing.

These photos make the house look huge! Nice workmanship. I imagine that while total cost of materials for tiny houses are less–the labor productivity falls off quite a bit. Imagine woking inside one of these with your powertools, carrying materials inside. Lots of unproductive time spent. Probably lots of time spent reinventing the wheel and then trying something else again. And if you don’t have a huge indoor (heated would be nice) facility to build them–that’s a whole other concern and more time wasted. I can easily see where the costs add up.
In an unregulated industry such as this–I would want to see a structural drawing just to see how this thing was put together under the skin.

The overhang. Wouldn’t it be easy to have attached to the eave (hinged) a flat panel that hangs flat for transport and then lifts up with poles to provide a nice shady overhang/porch/retreat? You can sit underneath in sunny/rainy weather, have you door/windows open. Even bar-b-q. I would make this panel the same size as the side wall.

So many builders of tiny homes now. How many people know what materials were used for their homes; what QUALITY?, what toxicity?
what energy efficiency?. All of these factors make a huge difference.
Sure there are criticisms of the “costs” of many houses, but maybe the builders focused on quality and other factors and used better materials. Better to pay more for quality and other factors than to get a cheap house built poorly. You get what you pay for.
I am interested in the metal framed houses now. It just makes sense to save trees, and, 2500 pounds of weight by using a quality metal frame. I wonder however are there earth friendly materials to go around the metal frames?. I do not believe plywood or sheetrock are earth friendly. namaste’, rachel

I think this tiny home is amazing!! The woodwork is just beautiful and I love all the large appliances and the cabinets seem like they offer a lot of storage. This home is really done up nice. Thanks for sharing!! Carol???

The only thing I might do is somehow put a few inches between the stove and the refrigerator. Why have some much of a heat source fighting with a refrigerator that works to keep things cold? I might put in a smaller stove to give more clearance between those two things.

I read some where here that someone had said that they lived in Florida and all the windows would make this beautiful THOW into an easy-bake oven by 3:00 pm.. Well I live in Florida and I would love to have this tiny house, and as for the windows they have awnings here that block out a tremendous amount of heat and direct sun lite, and still you would have that beautiful view as well as save energy on artificial lighting… And to boot they are not as expensive to have installed either.. If you can afford this tiny house you can afford the awnings… Besides they make a great area for you to sit out side once in a while…! LoL…!

This is the most beautiful tiny house I have seen. I would love to live here!!!

The best thing I have seen in a tiny house (and I can’t remember whose house it was, but he was famous in the tiny house movement) – was a table – which was height adjustable, plus moveable, so could be placed:
1. In front of the couch and low = coffee table.
2. In front of the couch and regular height = dinning table
3. In front of the window and regular height = desk
4. Half over the couch and half over the floor and low = space saving coffee table
5. Parallel to the kitchen bench and night = more bench space

Each different position had mounts in the floor to take the table.

With this addition, I would live in THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE!!!!
(parallel to the kitchen bench at its tallest setting)

As we review this tiny house again, it is easy to see I am not the only one who fell in love with it ….! I still do anyway and I will have one just like it when I find me a little space on this earth to put it on and call my own…!

I applaud the single-plane sloping roof. Such a roof is economical of material and labor, simplifies inside construction, makes it easy to collect rain, sheds all snow to one side, and probably does not leak, even when built by amateurs. Such a roof is a fine place to put solar panels, provided you aim the house so that the high edge faces away from Earth’s equator.

I never get tired of looking at this design, and I am already thinking how to even embellish it further… Or I should say modify it as it already looks great enough, and needs no embellishment…. But I would barrow from their other design and change the day bed with pop up TV, and build it with a bedroom with pocket door, but extending the trailer to about 40 ft. so you don’t lose any of the other beautiful details of this Tiny House.. And by extending it will give you a small comfortable living area as well…! I love this one..! I want to have one built for me so bad … I just need to find a spot to put it on…!

Very nice! But, I doubt the veracity of this statement; “You can tow this RV licensed 28′ long tiny house with most standard pick up trucks.”
Those “standard” pick up trucks would have to be equipped with a “non-standard” “heavy duty towing package.”

The content and information here is for entertainment and should not be taken as professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we are not professionals. The owner of this website disclaims all warranties expressed or implied regarding the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the information provided.

Tiny House Talk lets you list tiny homes for sale or rent as a free service but Tiny House Media, LLC, TinyHouseTalk.com, and its contributors do not validate/verify the information we receive for these listings so it is your responsibility to verify the information we provide for you. Please do your due diligence and deal with people in person. Thank you.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.